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Animal litter

a technology for animal litter and odor control, which is applied in the field of animal litter, can solve the problems of complex pelletization process, high cost, and difficulty in controlling pet urine odor, and achieve the effect of simple preparation and high absorbency of liquids and odors

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-01-04
AMERICAN WOOD FIBERS INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an improved animal litter that is suitable for small household pets. The litter is made of wood particles and shavings mixed with baking soda, which results in a lightweight, highly absorbent material that can control odors and fluids. The litter is easy to prepare and use, and is aesthetically pleasing to look at. The use of barkless wood makes the litter more pleasant to have in a home environment for use with pets. The invention also provides a cost-effective and easy-to-manufacture and use pet litter."

Problems solved by technology

The control of pet urine odors is a chronic challenge for those who keep pets on litter, and especially when the litter is maintained in an indoor location.
Although such litters are suitable for use as horticultural mulch, the inclusion of the tree bark causes an appearance which is considered to be unsightly when the material is used as a litter, and particularly a litter for small animals, such as those which would be kept in a person's home, or for use in places of display, such as pet shops.
However, the process of pelletization is complex and thus expensive.
Aspen is especially difficult to pelletize, because it is a hard, dry wood which exacts a toll on the extruding equipment used for the pelletizing process, by causing greater amounts of wear on the equipment parts, resulting in the expense of frequent maintenance and replacement.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example

An absorbent deodorizing animal litter is made of the following components (all components are by weight):

Mix about 80% shredded aspen with thin strands of wood fiber particles of from about ¼″ to about ½″ long with about 20% aspen shavings (not strands) sized from about ½ by ½ inch (85% of fibers retained on a 20-mesh screen). Then mix by weight about 500 pounds of the wood shreds / shavings mixture with 20 pounds of baking soda (about 4%). A range of about 5 pounds to about 50 pounds of baking soda are acceptable for this application. The aspen is preferably approximately 191% absorbent.

In the present invention baking soda is added specifically to aspen and to pine particles, because neither has any deodorizing smell or any other aroma, like cedar, that camouflages unpleasant odors. The mixtures of two textures of pine and aspen are used for improved texture feel, and absorbency characteristics of the mixture. Although the examples describe pine mixed with pine, or aspen mixed with ...

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PUM

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Abstract

An animal litter consists of wood particles and wood shavings and baking soda. The wood particles and wood shavings are selected from the group consisting of pine and aspen, to thereby provide a litter with optimal absorbency and odor control characteristics.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to the field of animal litters, and particularly to litter formed of wood and sodium bicarbonate. The absorbent litter material is characterized by a pleasant odor, durability, good absorption, and is especially suitable for use as a small animal litter, which effectively absorbs animal waste materials and neutralizes associated unpleasant odors.The control of pet urine odors is a chronic challenge for those who keep pets on litter, and especially when the litter is maintained in an indoor location. A variety of litter materials have been used, each with somewhat different characteristics, such as greater moisture absorption, comfort for the animal, and odor control by suppression, masking or elimination. Examples of past efforts to control odor include the use of wood shavings, such as white pine shavings, and by use of litter, which clumps upon exposure to moisture, and which urine soaked clumps can then be removed, le...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A01K1/015
CPCA01K1/0155A01K1/0152
Inventor SCHULEIN, JR., BENJAMIN M.JOHNES, MARTY
Owner AMERICAN WOOD FIBERS INC
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